Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots
About the show
A podcast about the design, development, and business of great software. Each week thoughtbot is joined by the people who build and nurture the products we love.
Episodes
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538: Transforming Therapy with Gaming: How MindJam Supports Young Minds
August 15th, 2024 | Season 14 | 43 mins 26 secs
In this episode of "Giant Robots On Tour," Sami Birnbaum and Rémy Hannequin interview Dan Clark, Founder and CEO of MindJam, which provides emotional and Special Educational Needs support for young people through gaming. Dan shares how MindJam began during the pandemic to help neurodivergent youth using games like Minecraft, emphasizing gaming's benefits for cognitive and social development. MindJam has grown significantly, now supporting over 2,000 young people globally with 110 mentors.
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537: Navigating the Startup Ecosystem with Marc Gauthier
August 8th, 2024 | Season 14 | 45 mins 49 secs
Marc G. Gauthier shares his journey from learning QBasic as a child to becoming a startup coach and founder of The Shadow Boxing App. He discusses his experiences in scaling startups, emphasizing the balance between speed and reliability in software development and the challenges of managing rapid team growth. Marc also offers insights on the role of AI in augmenting human workflows and advises developers to view AI as a tool to enhance their capabilities.
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536: Exploring AI and Mental Health with Sara Wilder
August 1st, 2024 | Season 14 | 43 mins 56 secs
In this episode of "Giant Robots On Tour," hosts Sami Birnbaum and Rémy Hannequin discuss mental health in the age of AI with Sara Wilder, a Therapeutic Life Consultant. Sara shares how the COVID-19 pandemic pushed her to integrate technology into her practice, emphasizing the benefits and challenges of using AI tools like ChatGPT. The conversation highlights the broader impact of technology on mental health, the need for ethical AI use, and maintaining human connection in digital therapy.
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535: AI in Healthcare: How CareTrainer.ai is Changing Elder Care
July 25th, 2024 | Season 14 | 48 mins 19 secs
Hosts Will Larry and Chad Pytel interview Brock Dubbels, Principal UX and AI Researcher at CareTrainer.ai, who explains how the company leverages AI to address the care crisis in elderly populations by automating routine tasks. This approach allows caregivers to focus on building meaningful relationships and providing personalized care, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and reducing burnout. Brock also discusses CareTrainer.ai’s apprenticeship model, which uses AI assistance to accelerate caregiver training and improve job satisfaction and retention.
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534: How Toma is Transforming Car Dealerships with Voice AI Technology
July 18th, 2024 | Season 14 | 44 mins 37 secs
Host Chad Pytel interviews Monik Pamecha, CEO of Toma, about how their AI technology automates phone calls for car dealerships, significantly enhancing customer service. Monik shares Toma's journey from initial AI experiments to focusing on voice AI, detailing the challenges and successes along the way. The discussion also covers the practical implementation of Toma's AI solutions in the automotive industry and the importance of clear communication about AI's role in customer interactions.
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533: Leveraging Data for Gender Equality with Amy-Willard Cross
July 11th, 2024 | Season 14 | 32 mins 59 secs
Founder Amy-Willard Cross discusses Gender Fair, a consumer rating system for gender equality that uses data and UN Women Empowerment Principles to evaluate companies in various categories, making it easier for consumers to make informed choices via their app and browser extension. She emphasizes the power of transparency and collective consumer action in driving corporate accountability and reflects on the challenges and future plans of Gender Fair.
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532: Building Trust and Community in Sustainable Business
July 3rd, 2024 | Season 14 | 39 mins 30 secs
Hosts Sami Birnbaum and Jared Turner are joined by Ishani Behl, CEO and Founder of Skillopp and Sustainr. Ishani shares how her background in instructional design and experiences at the UNDP inspired her to create Skillopp, which uses AI to simplify learning, and Sustainr, a platform connecting sustainable brands. She discusses the importance of dejargonization, the challenges of balancing multiple ventures, and her approach to building trust and fostering collaboration within her communities.
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531: Polished Podcasting with Mandy Moore
June 27th, 2024 | Season 14 | 24 mins 31 secs
Hosts Will Larry and Victoria Guido chat with Mandy Moore, the mastermind behind thoughtbot's podcasts, about the technical aspects and crucial role of editing in creating top-notch content. Mandy highlights the importance of having a producer handle behind-the-scenes work, allowing hosts to focus on captivating content, and discusses how a well-produced podcast can boost a company's brand presence and serve as a potent sales tool.
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530: Giant Robots On Tour
June 20th, 2024 | Season 14 | 25 mins 49 secs
Host Will Larry announces a new Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots podcast limited series focusing on Europe, West Asia, and Africa, introducing new co-hosts Sami Birnbaum, Svenja Schäfer, Rémy Hannequin, and Jared Turner. The team shares their journeys into the tech industry and engages in an icebreaker game while brainstorming names for the series. They ultimately decide on "Giant Robots On Tour," capturing the spirit of exploration and collaboration.
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529: How AI Transforms Small Business Operations
June 13th, 2024 | Season 14 | 40 mins 14 secs
Host Victoria Guido talks with Jaclyn Siu, co-founder of Starcycle, an AI platform acting as a COO for small businesses, where Jaclyn shares her entrepreneurial journey and vision for democratizing startup tools for small business owners. She discusses the development of Starcycle to automate critical business phases—start-up, sale, or shutdown—and emphasizes the role of personal connections, genuine curiosity, and empathy in creating solutions that meet the true needs of small businesses.
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528: AI in Action—How Fireflies Transforms Meeting Productivity
June 6th, 2024 | Season 14 | 41 mins 48 secs
Victoria Guido interviews Krish Ramineni, founder and CEO, about the evolution of Fireflies, an AI meeting assistant that transcribes and summarizes meetings in multiple languages. Krish talks about the rapid advancements in AI models, democratizing AI technology, and its potential to enhance productivity and enable small teams to achieve large-scale impacts. They also explore the future of work with AI, emphasizing the importance of adaptation and addressing challenges like data security and compliance.
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527: Exploring AI in Business with PrimeLab io’s Wendell Adams
May 30th, 2024 | Season 14 | 44 mins 50 secs
Host Victoria Guido welcomes Wendell Adams, CEO of PrimeLab io, who shares his journey from childhood tech enthusiast to entrepreneur, highlighting his focus on making technology accessible. Wendell discusses the strategic direction and market fit for PrimeLab, emphasizing innovative solutions for the entertainment industry that respect user control and privacy. The episode concludes with Wendell's insights on democratizing data access, enhancing business processes, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on thinking critically and creatively.
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526: AI-Powered Leadership with Waggle AI
May 23rd, 2024 | Season 14 | 34 mins 39 secs
Hosts Will Larry and Victoria Guido interview Sarah Touzani, founder of Waggle AI, who shares how her pottery hobby influenced her entrepreneurial journey and focus on improving managerial skills and workplace culture. Sarah discusses the challenges and pivots in developing Waggle AI, which aids in meeting preparations, note-taking, and providing feedback on leadership skills to enhance delegation and empathy.
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525: Tech, Public Service, and Serendipity
May 16th, 2024 | Season 14 | 51 mins
Victoria Guido chats with Robbie Holmes, founder and CEO of Holmes Consulting Group, who shares his unexpected journey from an entry-level position at a small web hosting company to a pivotal role in civic tech and public interest technology. Robbie discusses his evolution through various tech roles and his love of the Drupal community, highlighting the influential role of networking in his career development. He also reflects on his work with the U.S. Digital Service while underscoring the significance of technology in public services.
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524: From Personal Loss to Pioneering Pediatric Health
May 9th, 2024 | Season 14 | 36 mins 44 secs
Hosts Will Larry and Victoria Guido are joined by Hans Kullberg, Co-Founder of Pathfinder Health, a startup that integrates technology with pediatric health to provide objective developmental insights. Hans recounts his journey, from a career on Wall Street to the impactful work at Pathfinder Health, spurred by the tragic loss of his daughter, which motivated him to improve developmental diagnostics. He discusses how Pathfinder Health leverages machine learning and video analysis to enhance pediatric care, aiming for earlier and more accurate interventions by merging detailed developmental data into health records.
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523: The Art of Leadership with Francis Lacoste
May 2nd, 2024 | Season 14 | 34 mins 19 secs
Host Victoria Guido chats with Francis Lacoste, a seasoned VPE and CTO coach, who recounts his unexpected journey from cinema to tech leadership and his dedication to developing engineering management talent and fostering strong organizational cultures. He delves into the psychological aspects of leadership, emphasizing the importance of psychological safety, trust, and the critical soft skills required for effective strategic leadership.